Windows 7 Unable to boot ~ Help!

[Caotom]

This error came completely out of the blue, I was doing nothing out of the ordinary last night, installed no programs, got no viruses (barely actually went on my pc) but this morning Windows 7 is unable to boot.

I have spent close to 8 hours trying to fix this with everything I know and everything I could find on google about this problem, I would (if at all possible) like to be able to resolve this without wiping my HDD but it is not a requirement as the important files are backed up (I would just lose all my current scripts that are in progress, and all my programs which takes considerable effort to re-install xD )

Alright heres the error:
When switching on the computer it freezes just as the small coloured lights of the windows logo appear (during the boot sequence), it then restarts itself and asks whether I would like to run the Windows Repair Tool or Boot Windows Normally (doing the latter option just causes this to come up again and again), the Windows repair tool does it's thing, about half way through it asks whether or not I would like to system restore, I have done this twice with no avail (I am not restored to a week ago). After about 5 mins it comes up with:


'Windows cannot repair this computer automatically'
If you have recently attached a device to this computer, such as a camera or portable music player, remove it and restart your computer. If you continue to see this message contact your system admin... 'normal stuff'

I can then choose to view system diagnostic and repair details:

----------------------------
Last successful boot time: 2/12/2012 7:58:03 AM (GMT)
Number of repair attempts: 17

Session Details
---------------------------
System Disk = \device\Harddisk0
Windows Directory = D:\Windows
AutoChk Run = 0
Number of root causes = 1

It also gives me the option to view advanced options for system recovery and support which incluse system restore, command prompt, memory check, etc.

It is worth mentioning:
- This is Windows 7 Home Premium
- This is a relatively new PC and HDD, only around 3ish months old.
- I have tried: Bootrec /FixMBR, Bootrec /FixBoot, running auto repair, DskChk D: /r, and a few others.
- YES this problem persists after multiple restarts
- YES this problem persists in Safe Mode (ie. I can't boot in safe mode either)
- YES I have the Windows 7 CD
- YES I have tried running the repairs listed above form the cd
- NO I don't have anything except a basic keyboard and mouse plugged in (different ones to the ones that were in when the error occurred)


Any help would be much appreciated
~Caotom

[KingKong]

Try resetting your bios or something? And just to check its an OS fault, try running a linux OS from a usb stick and see if you can access your files.

[Sex]

Just for something easy, you can insert the Windows disk and install again on top of your current installation and it would just move all your old files to a folder called Windows.old :).

Try running the repair install or whatever from the disk too, I believe it is the same thing that you described but it may not.

[Caotom]

Try resetting your bios or something? And just to check its an OS fault, try running a linux OS from a usb stick and see if you can access your files.

Tried resetting BIOS already. Will try linux if reinstall of windows doesn't work.


Just for something easy, you can insert the Windows disk and install again on top of your current installation and it would just move all your old files to a folder called Windows.old .

Try running the repair install or whatever from the disk too, I believe it is the same thing that you described but it may not.

Yes I tried the repair install from the CD, trying the over-the-top install now.

EDIT: Okay I can't do the 'Upgrade Install', which is the type that keeps my files, without starting the install from Windows (which I can't do as I can't boot from either normal or safe mode).

~Caotom

[Runescape Pro]

Your computer gets further than mine. Idk how it happened but whenever my computer restarts it will show a little screen for my graphics card, then my cpu or bios but then when it gets to the blinking dash it will stay there. All I have to do is restart my computer after I pop in the disk I have and choose "startup repair". 99% of the time it will say it doesn't know why it won't boot and talks about devices I have recently plugged in. As soon as it restarts after the startup repair(after not catching anything) my windows loads fine. Good luck with getting it working. Windows errors can be such a pain.

[riwu]

go to your BIOS setting (press F1-F12--varies depending on ur brand, right after the com boots), then search for something like SATA, in which the option should be a 4-letter word, something like AHCP. Now change that to the other option, which is a 3-letter word, something like APA. SAVE config and reboot.

[Caotom]

go to your BIOS setting (press F1-F12--varies depending on ur brand, right after the com boots), then search for something like SATA, in which the option should be a 4-letter word, something like AHCP. Now change that to the other option, which is a 3-letter word, something like APA. SAVE config and reboot.

I think I actually love you (no homo).
Your advice was vague and sorta backwards but I googled SATA and followed from there, managed to find out a fix.
I simply went into my BIOS settings, then into my storage settings and changed my HDD to format as AHCP (it was previously IDE), it then booted fine :)
Albiet a little slower as you have no idea how much my computer hated me for doing two system restores, 45 mins of updating inc.
I was about 6 mins off finishing my ubuntu d/l, running that from my HHD, manually trying to grab some of the harder to get game files and other files then doing a clean install of windows.

thanks for all your help guys <3
~Caotom